Classic English Suet Dumplings Food

DUMPLINGS

Steps:

• Whilst your stew is bubbling, make the dumplings. Weigh the flour into a bowl and add ½ tsp salt. Stir through the suet and parsley, if using. Make a well in the centre and add 3 tbsp cold water, mix to a dough, adding more water until the dough is firm but pliable. Divide into eight equal pieces and roll in a little more flour into balls. Chill until needed.
• When the stew has about 30 mins to go, arrange the dumplings on top and cover with a lid. With the oven at 160C/140C fan/gas 3, cook the stew and dumplings for 20 mins, then remove the lid and cook for another 10 mins until they're brown and puffed up.

TRADITIONAL BRITISH BEEF STEW AND SUET DUMPLINGS

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• In a large bowl mix together the flour and the chunks of cooking steak. Make sure all the beef is covered in flour.
• In a large frying pan heat half the oil to hot but not smoking. Add half the floured steak pieces and brown all over. Remove the steak and place it into a Dutch oven or casserole dish. Add the remaining oil to the frying pan, heat again, then add the remaining steak and brown all over. Again, add the steak to the dish.
• Turn the heat up high and add the brandy to the frying pan, stir well, scraping up all the meat juices on the bottom of the pan. Continue to cook this mixture, taking care not to burn it, until it becomes a sticky glaze.
• Add the onion, leeks, and carrots to the frying pan, stir them well to coat all the vegetables with the glaze, then tip them all into the dish.
• Place the frying pan back onto the heat; stir in a third of the stock (1/2 pint) and bring to a boil, scraping all the bits from the bottom of the pan. Once all the bits are released, pour the stock into the casserole.
• Add the remaining stock, cover with a tight-fitting lid, then simmer gently on the stovetop or in a medium oven (350 F/175 C) for 2 hours. Check from time to time to make sure the stock isn't reducing too much. If it is, add a little boiling water. The meat and vegetables should always be covered by liquid. You can also make this recipe in a slow cooker if you have one.
• Move on to the next steps for the dumplings.
• In a roomy bowl, mix the flour with the suet and a pinch of salt. Add 3 tablespoons cold water and stir. If the dough is dry add more water until you have a soft, slightly sticky dough.
• Divide the dough into 8 to 9 pieces and shape into round balls with lightly floured hands. Leave to one side while you roll the remaining dumplings.
• After the beef stew has cooked for 2 hours, remove the lid, check the seasoning and add salt or pepper to taste. Add the dumplings to the stew, laying them on the surface at even distances apart. Pop one of the dumplings in the middle as well if you have enough. Cover the dish again with the lid and cook for a further 20 minutes.
• Remove the lid and you will see the dumplings well-risen; if not, cook for a few minutes more.
• Serve hot into warm bowls. Enjoy!

CLASSIC ENGLISH SUET DUMPLINGS

Steps:

• Mix the flour, suet, parsley and chives in a bowl.
• Season well with salt and freshly ground white pepper, then stir in enough stock to form a fairly stiff but still elastic dough that will leave the sides of the bowl clean.
• Heat the remaining stock in a large pan until boiling.
• Shape the dumpling dough into rounds about two bites big.
• Drop into the bubbling beef stock, cover and simmer for 25 to 30 minutes or until light and well puffed up.
• Remove from stock and serve.

ENGLISH BEEF STEW AND DUMPLINGS

Steps:

• Peel and chop all vegetables.
• Brown steak in a large stockpot.
• Add water to cover.
• Add all vegetables.
• Pour over gravy granules.
• Aimmer for 2 hours.
• Make dumplings by combining 2oz suet, 4oz plain flour and a little water. Separate into small balls and roll in flour. Add to top of stew half an hour before end of cooking. They are ready when well risen.
• This recipe freezes very well and is a weekly meal in our home.

CHICKEN CASSEROLE WITH HERBY DUMPLINGS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Toss the chicken pieces with the flour and some salt and pepper, to coat them - it's easy to do this in a plastic food bag.
• Heat the oil in a casserole with a lid. Brown the chicken pieces well on all sides - you'll need to do this in batches. Remove all the pieces to a plate, and tip the onions, carrot, lardons, bay and thyme into the pan. Cook gently for 10 mins until the onion is softened.
• Return the chicken pieces, with any juices that have collected on the plate. Then pour in the red wine, 250ml water and tomato paste and crumble in the stock cube. Add a splash more of water if you need, until the chicken is almost covered. Bring to the boil, then cover with a lid and bake in the oven for 20 mins. Remove the lid and bake for another 10 mins while you make the dumplings.
• Rub the butter into the flour with your fingertips until it feels like fine breadcrumbs. Stir in the herbs with ½ tsp salt and some pepper. Drizzle over 150ml water, and stir in quickly with a cutlery knife to form a light dough. Use floured hands to shape into ping pong sized balls.
• Place the dumplings on top of the stew and bake for 20 mins more until the dumplings are cooked through.